A trip to the grocery store will look a little different starting in July 2018 when the Food and Drug Administration's new mandate regarding nutrition panels goes into effect. As First Lady Michelle Obama said last May, “Very soon you will no longer need a microscope, a calculator or a degree in nutrition to figure out whether the food you're buying is actually good.” Among other things, the mandate requires packaged foods to call out added sugars right in the nutrition label, making it clearer for consumers to differentiate where the sugar in their food is coming from.
Sugar reduction is top of mind for many consumers. In fact, the firm Mintel’s 2017 Consumer Trend report listed the top trend of the year to be the backlash against sugar. The FDA hopes the design of these new labels will help customers avoid the sweet stuff and savvy shoppers are already flocking to the many sugar-free options available to them in stores and online. Of course some of these alternatives are more reliable than others. While it seems the choices are boundless, it is difficult to replicate the feel and taste of traditional sugar and recipes often suffer in taste or texture. Furthermore, many non-sugar alternatives have a reputation of bitter and metallic after-tastes, a few of which even contain dangerous chemicals.
However, stevia sweetener brands like Pyure Organic Stevia have a unique opportunity to aid consumers in their quest for sugar reduction with their suite of organic, plant-based, zero-calorie sugar substitutes. Native to South America, the stevia plant is part of the sunflower family, and its appeal is rapidly growing among informed, health-conscious consumers all over the country (usage has increased at least 12% over the last few years according to market research).
And consumers aren’t the only ones taking an active interest in cutting back on sugar. Big brands like Nestle and Pepsi are also taking note and targeting to reduce the amount of sugar in their products. As brands like these work to develop new, healthier offerings, Mintel’s report predicts that the food and drink industry will continue to face challenges. Reformulating recipes without sugar can be tricky as it drastically contributes to a product’s taste, appearance, and texture. Pyure is one company that is working to overcome these obstacles, often partnering with brands looking to sweeten their products without compromising quality and taste.
If Mintel’s 2017 trend report is accurate, this negative consumer attitude toward sugar in the food and drink industry is only expected to grow. As new, more explicit nutrition labels begin to grace our grocery shelves, consumers will be armed with even more information and, hopefully, more power to make better, healthier decisions at the point of purchase. Thankfully, when the sugar cravings hit, stevia brands like Pyure will be there to help stave off temptation.
